Hockey trivia: NHLers born in exotic locations

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:45 pm

This is a trivia question I thought up a few weeks ago, and it popped up in a not-exactly-related thread in the SI forums (where I asked it and there were some answers given, many of them even correct):

Which active NHLers (=players who have at least one NHL appearance and who have not officially retired from playing hockey) were not born in North America, Europe, or the territories of the former USSR?

I'm not sure I have the definitive list, but I do have *a* list, so have at it, guys. You get a bonus pat on the back for naming the birthplace.

Post by **batdad** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:31 pm

Still Europe, but not traditional spot: Owen Nolan, Belfast Ireland,

That LA goalie from Tokyo Japan, argh someone was born in Rio I believe but forget now who.

Kolzig-South Africa Johannesberg.

Enough

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:08 pm

Richard Park is from Korea.

I can't think of any other active players. I remember a guy who played for the Bruins for a short time in the 80's or 90's named Graeham Townsend. He was born in Jamaica. But you said active, so I can't count him.

flea · Post by **flea** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 7:29 pm

I will answer the same thing as in the SI forums

Ryan O'Marra was born in Tokyo, Japan

Give him time, he will play for sure with the big boys and I thought it was pretty interesting

Thundercleese · Post by **Thundercleese** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:24 pm

Robyn Regehr was born in Recife, Brazil and his brother Richie was born in Bandung, Indonesia.

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:33 pm

Nice going. Kölzig (Johannesburg, South Africa) is the easy one. Park (S. Korea), the Regehr brothers (Brazil and Indonesia), and Yutaka Fukufuji (Japan -- he's the Kings goalie who had a one-period relief appearance earlier in the season) are all correct answers.

I can't find my list right now, but there are at least two more.

Edit: I was about to give'em to you as spoilers, but the spoiler tag doesn't seem to work.

Post by **joehelmer** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:55 pm

Rumun Ndur, who played a few games in NHL in the 90's, is born in Nigeria.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:55 pm

Wow! The Regehr boys' parents must be serious travelers! Was dad in the military? Or maybe the Peace Corps? Or maybe a scientist? Those are pretty exotic locations.

The Hutch · Post by **The Hutch** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:54 pm

Craig Adams of the Hurricanes was born in Seria, Brunei.

Non-active, 15 year veteran Rod Langway was born in Maag, Taiwan.

Systemfel · Post by **Systemfel** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:27 am

bruins72 wrote:Wow! The Regehr boys' parents must be serious travelers! Was dad in the military? Or maybe the Peace Corps? Or maybe a scientist? Those are pretty exotic locations.

They were Mennonite missionaries.

Kekkonen · Post by **Kekkonen** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:59 am

Good job, guys -- Ndur and Adams are those two.

Systemfel wrote: They were Mennonite missionaries.

And that's sort of funny, isn't it? Mennonites swear by absolute non-violence, but Robyn Regehr isn't exactly known as the most gentle individual around. (I've never seen his brother play, so I can't comment on him.)

crosby87 · Post by **crosby87** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 12:55 pm

batdad wrote:Still Europe, but not traditional spot: Owen Nolan, Belfast Ireland,

That LA goalie from Tokyo Japan, argh someone was born in Rio I believe but forget now who.

Kolzig-South Africa Johannesberg.

Enough

Well if NI counts, Steve Thomas was born in exotic, sunny Stockport England.

oxenhoper · Post by **oxenhoper** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:18 pm

It's never been sunny in Stockport.

What about Steve Smith ex Blackhawks blueliner he was born in england.

crosby87 · Post by **crosby87** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:36 pm

Byron Dafoe was from Brighton wasn't he?

Post by **inSTAALed** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:57 pm

Aitkenhead, Andy 1932-1934 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Anderson, Tommy 1934-1941 (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Beattie, Jack 1930-1938 (Ibstock, England)
Blair, Chuck 1948-1948 (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Brown, Adam 1941-1951 (Johnstone, Scotland)
Brown, Kevin 1994-1999 (Birmingham, England)
Clark, Gordie 1974-1975 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Conacher, Jim 1945-1952 (Motherwell, Scotland)
Cude, Wilf 1930-1940 (Barry, Wales)
Dafoe, Byron 1992- (Sussex, England)
Fitzpatrick, Alex 1964-1967 (Paisley, Scotland)
Frew, Irv 1933-1935 (Kilsyth, Scotland)
Gardiner, Chuck 1927-1933 (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Gray, Alex 1927-1928 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Grigor, George 1943-1943 (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Hall, Joe 1917-1918 (Staffordshire, England)
Hepple, Alan 1983-1985 (Blaydon-On-Tyre, England)
Hodge, Ken 1964-1977 (Birmingham, England)
Holmes, Louis 1931-1932 (Rushall, England)
Jackson, Walter 1932-1935 (Instock, England)
Kirk, Bobby 1937-1937 (Belfast, N. Ireland)
Lee, Peter 1977-1982 (Ellesmere, England)
McFadden, Jim 1946-1953 (Belfast, N. Ireland)
McManus, Sammy 1934-1936 (Belfast, N. Ireland)
Nolan, Owen 1990- (Belfast, N. Ireland)
Perry, Brian 1968-1970 (Aldershot, England)
Robertson, Fred 1931-1933 (Carlisle, England)
Ross, Jim 1951-1952 (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Smith, Alex 1924-1934 (Bootle, England)
Smith, Steve 1984-2000 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Thomas, Steve 1984- (Stockport, England)
Thomson, Bill 1938-1943 (Troon-Ayrshire, Scotland)
Tomson, Jack 1939-1940 (Uxbridge, England)
Worthy, Chris 1968-1970 (Bristol, England)

Theres all the English players.

I just effectively ruined your fun, didn't I?

flea · Post by **flea** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:14 pm

There is also a player in the OHL born Nigeria:

Akim Aliu, RW from the Sudbury Wolves is born in Okene, Nigeria....but lists Toronto as his hometown, lol

oxenhoper · Post by **oxenhoper** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:30 pm

Ryan, you missed Tony Hand........... His NHL career lasted all of oooh four games.

Krieger99 · Post by **Krieger99** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:41 pm

Robyn Regehr - Brazil
Richie Regehr - Indonesia
Olaf Kolzig - South Africa
Yutaka Fukufuji - Japan
Brad Park - Born in Korea, I believe

That's all I can think of right now.

crosby87 · Post by **crosby87** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:51 pm

inSTAALed wrote:Aitkenhead, Andy 1932-1934 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Anderson, Tommy 1934-1941 (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Beattie, Jack 1930-1938 (Ibstock, England)
Blair, Chuck 1948-1948 (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Brown, Adam 1941-1951 (Johnstone, Scotland)
Brown, Kevin 1994-1999 (Birmingham, England)
Clark, Gordie 1974-1975 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Conacher, Jim 1945-1952 (Motherwell, Scotland)
Cude, Wilf 1930-1940 (Barry, Wales)
Dafoe, Byron 1992- (Sussex, England)
Fitzpatrick, Alex 1964-1967 (Paisley, Scotland)
Frew, Irv 1933-1935 (Kilsyth, Scotland)
Gardiner, Chuck 1927-1933 (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Gray, Alex 1927-1928 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Grigor, George 1943-1943 (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Hall, Joe 1917-1918 (Staffordshire, England)
Hepple, Alan 1983-1985 (Blaydon-On-Tyre, England)
Hodge, Ken 1964-1977 (Birmingham, England)
Holmes, Louis 1931-1932 (Rushall, England)
Jackson, Walter 1932-1935 (Instock, England)
Kirk, Bobby 1937-1937 (Belfast, N. Ireland)
Lee, Peter 1977-1982 (Ellesmere, England)
McFadden, Jim 1946-1953 (Belfast, N. Ireland)
McManus, Sammy 1934-1936 (Belfast, N. Ireland)
Nolan, Owen 1990- (Belfast, N. Ireland)
Perry, Brian 1968-1970 (Aldershot, England)
Robertson, Fred 1931-1933 (Carlisle, England)
Ross, Jim 1951-1952 (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Smith, Alex 1924-1934 (Bootle, England)
Smith, Steve 1984-2000 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Thomas, Steve 1984- (Stockport, England)
Thomson, Bill 1938-1943 (Troon-Ayrshire, Scotland)
Tomson, Jack 1939-1940 (Uxbridge, England)
Worthy, Chris 1968-1970 (Bristol, England)

Theres all the English players.

I just effectively ruined your fun, didn't I?

Yes you did!

Oh well, we were good in the 30's!!!